Chad Burdette
The 2026 Harvey Awards were awarded last Saturday, October 9, 2026, at the Javits Center during New York Comic Con, at the live event whosted by Brad and Lisa Gullickson, of the Comic Book Couples Counseling podcast.
NYCC News:
- New York Comic Con 2026: Pizza, TMNT, & Matthew Rosenberg
- New York Comic Con 2026: Marvel Midnight Press Room Interviews
- New York Comic Con – The Mighty Marvel Comics Press Room – Ryan North, Charles Soule, Ashley Allen, Joe Kelly
Founded in 1988 and named for the visionary writer/artist/editor Harvey Kurtzman, the annual Harvey Awards have helped guide readers, retailers, librarians, and educators to hundreds of essential comics and graphic novels for almost four decades.
Nellie Kurtzman, Harvey Awards Steering Committee Co-Chair, said about the awards:
“My father believed early on that comics deserved to be taken seriously as art—art that could change how people see the world.
Every one of these nominees carries that forward. They’re books that entertain you, challenge you, surprise you, and stick with you long after the last page.”
Harvey Kurtzman (1924–1993) was one of the most influential creators in comics history. Best known as the creator of MAD, he revolutionized American satire while proving comics could shape popular culture in profound and lasting ways.
The Harveys recognize the year’s top achievements in comic book and graphic novel publishing across seven categories:
- Book of the Year
- Digital Book of the Year
- Best Children’s Book
- Best Young Adult Book
- Best Manga
- Best International Book
- Best Adaptation from Comic Book/Graphic Novel
Book of the Year Nominees
The Harvey Awards’ highest honor recognizes the year’s best work, in an effort to help guide readers, retailers, librarians, and educators to essential titles.
- Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo by Scott Snyder & Nick Dragotta (DC)
- Absolute Martian Manhunter Vol. 1: Martian Vision by Deniz Camp & Javier Rodriguez (DC)
- Black Arms to Hold You Up: A History of Black Resistance by Ben Passmore (Pantheon)
- Cannon by Lee Lai (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Drome by Jesse Lonergan (23rd Street Books/Macmillan)
- The Ephemerata: Shaping the Exquisite Nature of Grief by Carol Tyler (Fantagraphics)
- A Garden of Spheres by Linnea Sterte (Peow2)
- More Weight: A Salem Story by Ben Wickey (Top Shelf/IDW)
- The Once and Future Riot by Joe Sacco (Metropolitan/Holt)
- The Weight by Melissa Mendes (Drawn & Quarterly)
Winner: Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo by Scott Snyder & Nick Dragotta (DC)
Digital Book of the Year Nominees
This category honors creators who are redefining publishing through digital-first storytelling and innovation.
- In the Real Dark Night by Jimmy Gownley (Webcomic)
- The Keluarga Cable Ship Company by Mereida Fajardo (UK Digital)
- The Lycan by Mike Carey, Thomas Jane, David James Kelly, and Diego Yapur (Comixology Originals)
- Nap Comix by Rachael Smith (WEBTOON)
- Practical Defense Against Piracy by Tony Cliff (Webcomic)
- Terran Omega: The Ghosts of War by PJ Holden (Webcomic)
- The World of Lublu by Charbak Dipta (The Charbax Store)
Winner: The Lycan by Mike Carey, Thomas Jane, David James Kelly, and Diego Yapur (Comixology Originals)
Best Children’s Book Nominees
This category honors outstanding comics and graphic novels that inspire young readers through imaginative storytelling, memorable characters, and accessible adventures.
- A Fishboy Named . . . Sashimi by Dan Santat (Roaring Brook Press)
- Inbetweens by Faith Erin Hicks (First Second)
- The New Girl: First Crush by Cassandra Calin (Scholastic)
- Night Chef by Mika Song (Random House Graphic)
- Young Shadow & the Watchdogs by Ben Sears (Fantagraphics)
Winner: Inbetweens by Faith Erin Hicks (First Second)
Best Young Adult Book Nominees
This category recognizes exceptional graphic novels and comics that engage YA readers through compelling storytelling, unforgettable characters, and powerful themes.r.
- Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen (Random House Graphic)
- Flip by Ngozi Ukazu (First Second)
- Good Old-Fashioned Korean Spirit: A Graphic Novel by Kim Hyun Sook & Ryan Estrada (Penguin Workshop)
- Hello Sunshine by Keezy Young (Little, Brown Ink)
- This Place Kills Me by Mariko Tamaki & Nicole Goux (Abrams Fanfare)
Winner: This Place Kills Me by Mariko Tamaki & Nicole Goux (Abrams Fanfare)
Best Manga Nominees
This category celebrates the artistry and storytelling of manga, honoring the works and creators carrying one of the world’s most influential comics traditions to readers everywhere.
“Manga continues to influence creators, readers, and storytellers around the world. These nominees represent extraordinary craftsmanship and show why manga remains one of the most dynamic forces in global publishing,” – Chip Mosher, Harvey Awards Steering Committee Co-Chair.
- Billy Bat by Naoki Urasawa & Takashi Nagasaki (Kana/Abrams)
- He Rolled Me Up Like a Grilled Squid by Yoshiharu Tsuge (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Land by Kazumi Yamashita (Yen Press)
- Miss Ruki by Fumiko Takano (NYR Comics)
- My Gorilla Family by Iijima Ichiro (Living the Line)
- My Life in 24 Frames Per Second by Rintaro (Kana/Abrams ComicArts)
Winner: Billy Bat by Naoki Urasawa & Takashi Nagasaki (Kana/Abrams)
Best International Book Nominees
This category recognizes outstanding comics and graphic novels from around the world, spotlighting the creators and stories expanding the medium beyond borders and languages.
- Animan by Anouk Ricard (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Buff Soul by Moa Romanova (Fantagraphics)
- Mary Pain by Lola Lorente (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Nocturnos by Laura Perez (Fantagraphics)
- Tiodora’s Letters: An Enslaved Woman’s Fight for Family and Freedom by Marcelo D’Salete (Fantagraphics)
- Witchcraft by Sole Otero (Fantagraphics)
Winner: Nocturnos by Laura Perez (Fantagraphics)
Best Adaptation from Comic Book/Graphic Novel Nominees
This category recognizes comics’ ongoing influence on television, film, streaming, and interactive entertainment.
- The Boys — Season 5 (Prime Video). Based on The Boys by Garth Ennis & Darick Robertson (Dynamite)
- Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc (Theatrical — Crunchyroll/Sony). Based on Chainsaw Man by Tatsuki Fujimoto (VIZ Media)
- Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle (Theatrical — Crunchyroll/Sony). Based on Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba by Koyoharu Gotouge (VIZ Media)
- Invincible — Season 4 (Prime Video). Based on Invincible by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker & Ryan Ottley (Image/Skybound)
- LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (Warner Bros. Games — PS5/Xbox/Switch/PC). Based on Batman (DC Comics), created by Bob Kane & Bill Finger
- My Hero Academia — Final Season (Crunchyroll). Based on My Hero Academia by K?hei Horikoshi (VIZ Media)
- One Piece — Season 2 (Netflix). Based on One Piece by Eiichiro Oda (VIZ Media)
- Peacemaker — Season 2 (HBO Max). Based on Peacemaker (DC Comics, orig. Charlton), created by Joe Gill & Pat Boyette
- Spider-Noir (Prime Video/MGM+). Based on Spider-Man Noir (Marvel Comics) by David Hine, Fabrice Sapolsky & Carmine Di Giandomenico
- Your Letter (Netflix). Based on Your Letter by Hyeon A. Cho (WEBTOON/Naver)
Winner: Spider-Noir (Prime Video/MGM+). Based on Spider-Man Noir (Marvel Comics) by David Hine, Fabrice Sapolsky & Carmine Di Giandomenico
Also Awarded at the Ceremony:
Sophie Castille Award for Comics in Translation
True Colors: Growing Up Weird in the ‘90s by Elise Gravel, translated by Montana Kane, published by Drawn and Quarterly
Heartcore by Št?pánka Jislová, translated by Martha Kuhlman, published by Pennsylvania University Press
Not on Display by Zelba, translated by Alice Yang, published by Helvetiq
Petra Chérie by Attilio Micheluzzi, translated by Jamie Richards, published by Fantagraphics
Witchcraft by Sole Otero, translated by Andrea Rosenberg, published by Fantagraphics
Winner: True Colors: Growing Up Weird in the ‘90s by Elise Gravel, translated by Montana Kane, published by Drawn and Quarterly
Harvey Awards Hall of Fame Inductees
- David Mazzuchelli
- Jenette Kahn
- Klaus Janson
- Frank Miller
Posthumous Inductees
- Jerry Robinson
- Dick Sprang
- Carmine Infantino
- Frank Robbins
- Denny O’Neil
- Dick Giordano
- Jim Aparo
- Marshall Rogers
- Tim Sale
Congrats to the winners and thanks to all the nominees for making 2025 such a great year in comics.
